The Lazy Donkey

The Lazy Donkey is a heart-warming moral story about Hobi, a clever but lazy donkey who tries to avoid his work by finding shortcuts.

Each day, he tricks his owner, Ramu, by falling into a stream to make his load lighter.

Listen and Enjoy

But when Ramu discovers Hobi’s scheme, he fills the sack with cotton instead of salt, which absorbs water and becomes even heavier.

Through this clever twist, Hobi learns that shortcuts don’t always lead to an easy life, and he discovers the importance of honesty and hard work.

The Lazy Donkey – Let’s Read

Once upon a time, in a quiet village surrounded by rolling hills and lush green fields, there lived a hardworking farmer named Ramu.

He was known for his dedication to his farm and his kind heart. Ramu owned a donkey named Hobi, who was strong and capable but also incredibly lazy.

Unlike the other animals on the farm, who did their work without complaint, Hobi always looked for ways to avoid his duties.

He spent most of his time under the shade of trees, munching on fresh grass, and dreaming of a life without hard work.

Every morning, Ramu loaded Hobi with heavy sacks of salt and set off for the market.

The journey was long, winding through rocky paths and a small stream that cut through the village.

Hobi found the journey tiring and would often sigh dramatically, dragging his hooves as if he could barely carry the weight.

He hoped that Ramu would take pity on him and remove some of the load, but the wise farmer knew better.

Hobi’s Sneaky Plan

One day, as Hobi trudged along with the heavy salt sacks, he slipped and fell into the stream.

The cool water surrounded him, and when he stood up, he noticed something surprising—his load felt much lighter!

As he continued walking, he realized that the water had dissolved some of the salt, making his burden easier to carry.

Hobi’s eyes widened with excitement. “This is perfect! If I fall into the stream every day, my load will always be lighter,” he thought with a sly grin.

The next morning, as they approached the stream, Hobi deliberately stumbled and fell into the water. Just as he had hoped, the salt dissolved, and his burden became lighter.

Delighted by his clever trick, he repeated this every single day, pretending to trip so that his load would shrink before reaching the market.

At first, Ramu didn’t notice, but as the days passed, he became suspicious. He knew exactly how much salt he had packed each morning, yet the weight always seemed to decrease by the time they arrived at the market.

Hobi, on the other hand, seemed unusually cheerful after crossing the stream. Ramu decided to keep a close eye on his donkey to uncover the truth.

Related Moral Stories

Ramu Outsmarts Hobi

One morning, Ramu devised a clever plan to teach Hobi a lesson. Instead of filling the sacks with salt, he packed them with fluffy cotton.

The unsuspecting Hobi, excited for another easy day, strutted toward the stream. When they reached the water, he confidently “tripped” and fell in, expecting his usual relief.

But this time, something unexpected happened! Instead of dissolving, the cotton absorbed the water, making the load much heavier than before.

When Hobi stood up, he realized with horror that the weight had nearly doubled. His legs wobbled under the immense burden, and he let out a loud, miserable bray.

Ramu chuckled and patted Hobi on the back. “Not all tricks work forever, my friend,” he said with a knowing smile.

Hobi struggled to walk, realizing that his plan had completely backfired. What was once an easy journey now felt like an impossible task.

He had no choice but to carry the extra-heavy load all the way to the market, step by slow, agonizing step.

By the time they reached their destination, Hobi was exhausted beyond words. His legs ached, his back hurt, and he regretted ever trying to fool Ramu in the first place.

Hobi Learns His Lesson

That evening, as Hobi lay under his favorite tree, he reflected on what had happened. His plan to escape work had only made things worse.

If he had done his job properly from the start, he wouldn’t have suffered so much. He realized that honesty and hard work were the best way forward.

The next morning, when Ramu loaded him with salt again, Hobi carried the weight without complaint. He walked steadily, no longer looking for shortcuts.

He had finally learned his lesson—taking the easy way out often leads to bigger problems in the end.

From that day on, Hobi became a responsible and hardworking donkey. He never tried to trick Ramu again, and he even felt a sense of pride in doing his job well.

The other animals on the farm notice the change and respect him for his newfound diligence.

And so, Hobi and Ramu continued their journeys to the market, but this time, with trust and honesty between them.

Quote of the Day

Shortcuts may lighten today’s load, but they often double tomorrow’s burden.

Moral of the Story

Trying to escape responsibility may seem easy, but it often brings even greater trouble. Hard work and honesty are always the best way forward.

Lessons Kids Learn from “The Lazy Donkey”

• Hard Work Pays Off – The story teaches that avoiding work might seem easy at first, but true success comes from putting in effort and doing your best.
• Shortcuts Can Backfire – Hobi’s trick worked for a while, but in the end, it made his work much harder. This shows that trying to cheat or take shortcuts can lead to bigger problems.
• Honesty is the Best Policy – If Hobi had been honest and done his job properly, he wouldn’t have struggled later. The story encourages kids to be truthful and responsible.
• Cleverness Should Be Used Wisely – Being smart is great, but using intelligence to avoid work or trick others is not the right way to go. Instead, cleverness should be used for good purposes.
• Learning from Mistakes – Hobi made a mistake, but he learned his lesson and changed his behavior. The story reminds kids that making mistakes is okay, as long as they learn and improve.
• Responsibility Matters – Just like Hobi had a job to do, everyone has responsibilities. The story teaches that taking responsibility seriously is important.
• Effort Brings Respect – When Hobi started working properly, he earned Ramu’s respect. Hard work and dedication make others appreciate and trust you.
• Actions Have Consequences – The story shows that every action, good or bad, has an outcome. If you try to trick others, you might end up tricking yourself instead!
• Being Lazy Doesn’t Lead to Happiness – Hobi wanted an easy life, but his laziness only caused him more trouble. The story teaches that staying active and doing your work is better in the long run.
• Good Habits Make Life Easier – Once Hobi learned to do his work properly, his life became smoother. Kids can learn that developing good habits leads to a happier, more successful life.

Follow-Up Questions for “The Lazy Donkey”